COVER REVEAL – Another Round by Nikki Belaire

She knows I would die for her. Even if her father is
the one who wants me dead.

A call I don’t expect. A job I don’t want. A hassle I don’t
need. I’d protected his wife a long time ago, and now the notorious mob boss
wants me to keep his daughter safe. I resist the tempting and troublesome mafia
princess for as long as I can, but once I take her, there’s no going back, no
giving her back. She thinks what we have between us is just a fling, but I know
we’re forever. Regardless of what she says or her dad orders.

Another Round is a friends-to-lovers, older
man/younger woman mafia romance and touches on sensitive topics. Reader
discretion advised. No cheating or cliffhanger.

Relief floods my clenched muscles once we reach the landing.
Only a few more feet, and she’ll be inside her apartment. Safe from danger.
Safe from me. She pauses at the door and looks up. Hope bubbling in her
expression where there shouldn’t be any. I shouldn’t have created any.

“Wait just a second. I’ll be right back.”

This isn’t good. I should tell her good night and lock the
door behind her. Walk away literally and figuratively. Instead, I stand here
waiting once again. Not impatient or irritated. Because I know she’s coming
back, and she’s always well worth the wait.

Of course she’s fucking gorgeous when she does. A sparkling
smile, glowing with joy and mischief, grows with each step closer.

“What are you up to trouble?”

She holds up the heavy pink blanket draped over her slender
arm. “Want to be naughty with me?”

Impossible to resist with her eyebrow twerking up in
challenge, I nod automatically. Without thought or reason for what’s right or
logical or decent. My turn to be curious as to what she’s implying. She points
to the silver metal ladder attached to the wall at the end of the corridor.

“Let’s go up on the roof and look at the stars again.”

Beyond wrong, but I can’t seem to tell her no with the
excitement brewing in her expression as she flexes on her feet. Eager to climb
up. Keen to learn more. “All right. For a little bit.”

I’d kill a man for keeping me from enjoying the ecstasy
radiating in her from my agreement. As usual, she practically runs to the
narrow access and I definitely have to run to catch up. I allow her to ascend
the first three rungs before I scramble behind her. Sheathing her small body to
mine to keep her from falling if she loses her grip. Our ascension is quick
which is a blessing since I can’t think straight with her captured between my
arms. Fighting against the overwhelming need to touch her more.

Adorable when she turns around after stepping onto the
concrete and offers me her hand. Unwilling to offend her by declining her
unnecessary assistance, I accept and squeeze her fingers in appreciation. But
let go as soon as I’m up. Much to her dismay if the faltering grin is any
indication.

Picking a spot in the middle, she billows the bedspread
across the surprisingly dry and clean surface and kneels down to smooth the
wrinkles. I sit beside her. Spreading my legs in front of me and crossing my
feet at the ankles. Attempting to keep a virtual barrier between us as she
crawls closer to me once she finishes her efforts.

She lays back on the cover. Silky hair splayed around her.
Longer than when she first arrived since she hasn’t found a salon yet that she
likes. Fucking crazy that I know this kind of personal girly stuff, but since
she tells me everything, I know everything.

Except what she’s thinking right now. As she looks at me,
rather than the dark expanse above us. Her soft gaze studies me, contemplative
and inquisitive.

“Will you show me some more constellations?”

I have no choice. I have to lie down with her because how in
the hell can I deny her request. As soon as my back hits the fabric, she
scooches closer and curls onto her side. Friendly and innocent resting her head
on my shoulder. Until she tucks her face into my neck.

Inhales my scent with a deep breath.

Fists my shirt with her small fingers.

Whispers my name with a needy murmur.

Hardens my cock with no effort at all.

Fuck.

“What are you doing?”

Barely able to get the words out, my voice rasps with the
same desire that she conveys with her actions.

“I don’t know.”

Then we shouldn’t be doing this. Not if she’s as terrified
as I am that we’ve gone too far. We can’t go back. We can’t undo what we’ve
done.

Obvious she doesn’t agree. Not with her delicate hand
cupping my face. I shouldn’t do it but I can’t resist and look down at her. So
fucking perfect staring back up with a longing that mimics my own. Jesus.

I’m so fucking weak. I push it. Push her to
see if she really wants this. Wants me. I roll over, pinning her underneath me.
Raising up on my forearms to keep from crushing her. “You really are trouble.”

That accusation makes her grin. And caress her fingers over
my short hair. And rise up to kiss me. Gentle and tentative and soft.
Everything I’m not. But somehow I restrain myself and let her lead with tender
brushes of her lips. “I know.”

She pulls back, smiling up at me. My cheeks fill her dainty
palms from me smiling back down at her. Behaving like the gentleman she
deserves and expects and knows. Tamping down the beast roaring inside me from
the proximity of my hungry dick nestled between her legs. From the heat
engulfing me with her trapped beneath me with no escape. From every inch of her
body molding to mine without hesitation or fear.

“You are too.”

That I am. And, it’s unfair to her. I remain motionless. My
question answered that she’s not ready. She can’t handle me or what I want to
do with her.

Author Bio

Nikki writes contemporary romantic thrillers and admits to a weakness
for bad boys, especially ones who can’t live without the strong women they
love. She spends more time in her characters’ lives than her own. But, when
she’s in the real world, her passions include reading, wine appreciating,
running, and spending time with her husband and daughter.